Older LGBTI people struggling with suicide

Older LGBTI people struggling with suicide

USA-flag 420x470A high number of older LGBTI people living in San Francisco have considered suicide, according to a new study commissioned by the city’s LGBT Aging Policy Taskforce.

The study surveyed 616 LGBTI San Francisco residents from 60 to 92 years of age, finding 15 percent had “seriously considered” suicide within the past 12 months. The same study found relatively high rates of disability as well as poor mental and physical health among respondents, both of which can be associated with suicide rates.

This is the first survey of its kind to ask participants about suicidal tendencies over a recent 12-month period according to researchers, who said numbers this high were alarming and would usually only be associated with suicidal tendencies measured over a person’s lifetime.

The results have prompted researchers to recommend the city implement a suicide prevention campaign targeting older LGBTI people, who cited housing instability as a significant source of stress.

Mental health and suicide prevention was a focus of Australian’s inaugural LGBTI Aged Care Forum held last month in Sydney.

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